MacQueen ready to dive into 'dream job'

May 27, 2012

Steve MacQueen, director of the 7 Days of Opening Nights Performing Arts Festival at Florida State University in Tallahassee, FL, has been hired to succeed outgoing artistic director Arnie Malina at the Flynn Center for the Performing Arts and the Burlington Discover Jazz Festival. / Courtesy photo

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Steve MacQueen was busy packing Wednesday afternoon at his home in Tallahassee, Fla., so he was happy to take a brief break to talk about his move to Burlington — especially considering how excited he is about the reason he’s coming to Vermont.

“It seems like I’m going up to a dream job,” MacQueen said of his new position as the Flynn Center’s artistic director.

MacQueen leaves his post as the director of the 7 Days of Opening Nights Performing Arts Festival at Florida State University to take over the Flynn’s programming job from the retiring Arnie Malina.

“It’s big shoes to fill,” MacQueen said, though adding that he’s impressed by the organization and commitment among the staff at the Flynn Center. “To fit in and be part of that group will be both fun and fairly easy.”

The challenge, MacQueen said, will be to build on the three-decade tradition of the performing-arts center while bringing something new to the mix. He doesn’t expect to make significant changes early in his tenure while he gets to know the community.

MacQueen said he leaves Florida today for the drive north. He expects to arrive Tuesday or Wednesday in Burlington before starting his new job Friday, the first day of the Burlington Discover Jazz Festival. He said he’s looking forward to meeting and talking with members of the community during the festival, a busy time in Burlington’s arts scene that he said gives him the chance to “learn to swim by jumping in the deep end.”